Sex & Love: We triple-dog, no take-backs, infinity dare you to …

Take a NSFW portrait

Sexy Girl Photography

Any impulsive vixen can snap a cellphone photo of her rack, but real pinup photography is an art. Boudoir photographer Lindsey Banks specializes in capturing women’s sultry sides on film in her Sacramento studio or on location. Her photo-shoot packages range from the $175 Sweet Session (one-hour photo shoot with DIY styling) to the luxurious $2,300 Seductive Collection (a full-day shoot, several hair and makeup looks from a professional stylist, all digital images and a bound book of your best shots). If you’ve got the money, why not flaunt your moneymaker? (916) 224-7020, www.sexygirlphotography.com. (B.C.)

Bring sexy back (to the 1800s)

Top Hand Ranch carriage ride

If you think Old Sacramento is just for sixth-grade field trips and out-of-towners, think again. Bring your special someone and experience the cobblestone roads on a horse-drawn carriage operated by Top Hand Ranch. A $10 ride will take you on a 15-minute excursion of gold rush-era Sacramento, through old-fashioned riverfront blocks lined with quaint stores and delicious restaurants. Longer routes run through parks, down the riverfront promenade or to the Capitol. Try a carriage ride at sunset for added romance, but don’t blame us if you find yourself going for another round. (916) 496-0102, www.tophandranch.com. (L.B.)

Share an aphrodisiac

Magpie Café’s chocolate avocado mousse

It’s no secret that chocolate is considered an aphrodisiac, but sometimes this little bit of sexy heaven comes in mysterious forms. Take, for instance, Magpie Café’s chocolate avocado mousse. Served in a tiny dish, this dessert packs a lovely wallop with its rich blend of cocoa, avocado, maple syrup, cinnamon and Himalayan sea salt. The taste is a pure delight—you’d never guess it’s completely vegan—and the texture is so rich, creamy and unbelievably dense that a little goes a long, long way. Perfect for date-night dessert; better make sure the waitress brings two spoons. 1409 R Street, (916) 452-7594, www.magpiecaterers.com. (R.L.)

Troll Craigslist

Missed Connections

Did your eyes meet across the crowded light rail? Do you wish you had dodged the old guy selling stuff out of a plastic bag, parted the pot smoke like a vision and struck up conservation with that good-looking stranger? You’ve still got a chance. For those “meet cute” moments that got away, you can try your luck on Craigslist’s Missed Connections. Recent offerings include: “Gold Volvo and Blue Jeans, I like your style … We could be dangerous together. –Friendly cyclist by Safeway,” and “Frozen Yogurt (downtown Auburn) … You’re super hot. What color beenie was I wearing?” Perhaps you have a frozen-yogurt server of your own you’d like to make melt? http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mis. (H.B.)

Dance your attraction

Tango by the River

If modern dance-floor bump-and-grind isn’t your style, take your fancy footwork techniques to the next level. They say it takes two to tango, and Sacramento’s Tango by the River gives you a chance to explore that sensuous philosophy with a series of beginning, intermediate and advanced classes. Located in Old Sacramento, this sprawling dance studio has airy 14-foot ceilings dominated by huge picture windows to make you feel as though you’re dancing above the streets of Buenos Aires. The studio also offers Zumba and yoga classes and private tango lessons. 128 J Street, (916) 443-7008, www.rivertango.com. (R.L.)

Put your date on wheels

Practical Cycle bike tours

Looking for a way to combine quality time with your honey and outdoor fun? Try one of Practical Cycle’s bike tours. An abundance of tours, guided or self-guided, explore Sacramento. If the tour highlighting local history isn’t your cup of tea, try an art tour. Learn about those murals in the tunnel from Old Sac to Downtown Plaza and other public art. You can also rent bikes and set off on the American River Parkway. Just be careful if you try a hand-holding maneuver from one bike to another! 114 J Street in Old Sacramento, (916) 706-0077, www.practicalcycle.com. (K.H.)

Find an animal place in your heart

Volunteer at Animal Place

You are a kind, compassionate individual. Well, not really, but it’s never too late to allow some humanity to eek out of your living corpse. Take a baby step by volunteering at one of the largest sanctuaries for farmed animals in the country, Animal Place in Grass Valley. Lending a hand will lead you to meet some new friends—bovines, goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, chickens. There are also animals available for adoption (translation: an opportunity of lifelong love). Not ready for that kind of commitment? Take the embryonic step of making a financial donation instead. 17314 McCourtney Avenue in Grass Valley, (530) 477-1757, http://animalplace.org. (S.S.)

Be a cheap date

$25 dinner for two at Selland’s

Ah, summer love. Warm nights walking arm in arm and lingering over bottles of wine after a great meal. We can all afford a stroll down the street, but the wine-and-dine isn’t easily achieved for the cash-strapped. Selland’s Market-Café makes it possible for you and your bank account to eat without being eaten. Each week, Selland’s offers a new dinner special for two, complete with a bottle of paired wine. At $25 and with new extended hours for summer, it might be the best deal in town. (And the only time you can act cheap and still respect yourself in the morning.) 5340 H Street, (916) 736-3333, www.sellands.com. (K.B.)

Float a canoe for two

Moonlight paddle

Next time there’s a full moon, don’t just enjoy its spectacular beauty from your backyard patio. Spirit your sweetheart down to the river for a night of stargazing illuminated only by the moon. All you need is a canoe or other sturdy and safe watercraft (keep it simple—no motors to ruin that peaceful vibe), good manners and common sense. A little vino is nice, but this is not the place to booze it up. Want something a little more official? California Canoe & Kayak offers monthly moonlight paddles on Lake Natoma. (800) 366-9804, www.calkayak.com, $39 or $10 if you provide your own kayak. (R.L.)

Flaunt it like a Siren

Sizzling Sirens Burlesque Boutique and Studio

With walls painted red and black, soft lighting and piles of lace-trimmed lingerie, the Sizzling Sirens’ new boutique evokes an era before sexy met spandex, Brazilian waxes, “Skinny Bitch” diets and spray-on tans. It’s a world where corsets, thigh-high stockings, garter belts and elbow-length gloves are the epitome of sex appeal. A mirrored dance studio in back accommodates the troupe’s burlesque classes. Drop in to choose an outfit that’s sure to flatter any curves, or register for a six-week class culminating in a live performance at Harlow’s. Now that’s a summer dare! 2419 1/2 J Street, (916) 709-6981, www.sizzlingsirensburlesque.com. (B.C.)